![]() ![]() You pay for what you get.ĭell’s XPS 17 delivers respectable performance across the board. A Razer Blade 17 or Gigabyte Aorus 17 can beat the XPS 17 when configured with faster hardware, but the Razer Blade 17 we reviewed had an as-tested price of $3,999 while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 was tested at $3,299. Shoppers should remember the XPS 17’s less capable graphics hardware comes with a lower price tag. Photographers and videographers will appreciate its inclusion. There is one uncommon connectivity option available: a full-sized SDcard reader. A 3.5mm combo audio jack is present, however. You’ll need to pack an adapter to use these connections. There’s no USB Type-A, no HDMI, no standard DisplayPort, and no Ethernet. While the XPS 17 is friendly with Thunderbolt 4, it gives other ports the cold shoulder. Owners will want to use the charger that comes with the laptop. This impressive selection means you can charge the laptop using any available port and attach multiple DisplayPort monitors.Ī quick word of warning, however: the Dell XPS 17 configuration I reviewed can consume over 100 watts at load, which is more than the maximum wattage of most chargers and peripherals that can provide power over Thunderbolt 4 or USB4. All four Thunderbolt 4 are also compatible with USB4. We’re talking four Thunderbolt 4 ports, all of which support DisplayPort Alternate Mode and Power Delivery. The Dell XPS 17 embraces Thunderbolt 4 in a big, warm, fuzzy bear hug. Both features are standard and work well, though I find facial recognition quicker and more reliable than a fingerprint reader. #WORKHORSE PERFORMANCE WINDOWS#The XPS 17 has a fingerprint reader built into the keyboard and supports Windows Hello facial recognition login through the IR camera. There’s some good news in biometrics, at least. Audio quality is usable but has a distant, hollow quality. Most modern dual-mic arrays are passable, and the XPS 17’s is no exception, it doesn’t stand out. The same can be said of the dual-microphone array. It’s fine for most video calls but won’t pass muster if you’re hoping to impress in a virtual meeting or call in for an interview. #WORKHORSE PERFORMANCE 720P#It’s a basic 720p camera that offers merely passable video quality and struggles with low-light situations. Work-from-home professionals will be disappointed by the Dell XPS 17’s webcam. Still, the speakers are acceptable for video calls and podcasts. Dialogue comes through clearly, as do quick bass beats, but complex tracks can sound muddled. Maximum volume is high but the audio has a harsh, sparkling quality that’s unpleasant when the volume is turned up. While the XPS 17’s display is excellent, its speakers fall short. These sacrifices are made to enable switchable graphics, a decision that improves battery life. Gamers should note the XPS 17 lacks Nvidia G-Sync and the display has a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz. The extreme pixel density provides clarity in 3D games, wonderful clarity in 4K streaming content, and crisp edges around fine text. A resolution of 3,840 x 2,400 on a 17-inch display translates to 266 pixels per inch, which is as good as it gets on a laptop of this size. Color accuracy is outstanding, as well, so content looks as its creator intended. Put simply, the XPS 17 can display a wide range of color – as wide as you’ll find on any laptop sold today. I measured 100 percent coverage of the sRGB and Adobe RGB color gamuts, as well as 98 percent of DCI-P3. ![]() ![]() High brightness comes with elevated black levels, however, so movies and streaming shows can look washed-out in dark scenes.Ĭolor performance is superb. This is so high that outdoor use becomes possible despite the display’s extremely glossy coat. Maximum brightness is extremely high at up to 550 nits, higher than the 500 nits promised by Dell. ![]()
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